Took the leap

[mikeraydj]

Well it has finally happened. I am on my third season of detecting. I started with a Bounty Hunter Quick Draw 2, Not long after a Fisher F2, then a Fisher F5. Then made it to Minelab with an Xterra 705 Gold. I have had a lot of fun and good finds with all these detectors, but all the while I have been lusting for an Etrac since day one. The day has finally come! It will be used, but it looks great and I got a great deal from Gerry's Detectors in Boise Idaho. Nice Guy! I won't have the machine till next week. This is gonna kill me with this short wait. Like a kid waiting for Christmas. I know it has a steep learning curve, but maybe having had an Xterra will make it easier to transition. Any advice would help.

 

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[kingskid1611]

Good Luck with a new one when it arrives.

 

[civil_war22]

Well it has finally happened. I am on my third season of detecting. I started with a Bounty Hunter Quick Draw 2, Not long after a Fisher F2, then a Fisher F5. Then made it to Minelab with an Xterra 705 Gold. I have had a lot of fun and good finds with all these detectors, but all the while I have been lusting for an Etrac since day one. The day has finally come! It will be used, but it looks great and I got a great deal from Gerry's Detectors in Boise Idaho. Nice Guy! I won't have the machine till next week. This is gonna kill me with this short wait. Like a kid waiting for Christmas. I know it has a steep learning curve, but maybe having had an Xterra will make it easier to transition. Any advice would help.

Its an awesome detector. Don't get discouraged by the learning curve. Read the manual if any doubt and listen for the high tones.

 

[Sandman]

Congrats on the new toy...Dig every thing for awhile.

 

[RobRieman]

You will learn it quick if you have been detecting for a while with different machines. It's not nearly as hard as people make it out to be. Sandman has great advice. Dig everything and remember what it came in at until you can start naming your finds before you dig.

 

[DeepseekerADS]

 

[mikeraydj]

Thanks for the target sheet. That will help a lot.

 

[Showtime2385]

When I got this machine I thought it was going to weigh a ton and speak alien from all that I read. Well I bet that everyone that made those comments didn't even own one and were just mad that they couldn't lol because its not a heavy machine at all and the learning curve was like any other machine. My advise to you, Trust the machine. Good luck!

 

[DeepseekerADS]

I used my Etrac, and yes it did kill my elbow. Used a sling until I sold it after negligence on my part - humidity into the works, minelab repair. I'd purchased the CTX on a good deal here, still under warranty. My ears don't really hear any difference in the tones, or FE-CO numbers. I find some variance in the numbers here and there - mostly right on.

Mike, when you get your Etrac, just use it stock as it comes for a while. Don't even worry about settings and set-ups, etc. Just turn it on and swing the coil. There's the nulls and all kinds of flutey sounds, but you want the solid sounds. Nickles sound a little different from the high solid sounds you'll be listening for. But they tend to come close in the numbers on the chart. Zincs seem to come in right at 12-38 and the coppers hit the target as well. Really, the chart is pretty good, but if there's a little variance and the sound is solid, dig it.

Sometimes it will sound like an orchestra out of control, the iron in the soil, etc. You'll be sending 28 different frequencies into the ground with each one interpreting the target or surroundings. So, if you think about it, you're essentially getting a 3D sound of the target itself.

Just get used to what the machine is telling you, and once you're there you'll be able to intelligently look at all the options in the menus. Then you can set it to what your needs are.

I bet you can't wait! Good luck.

 

[Sandman]

The sounds are more like a strangled duck..

 

[mikeraydj]

I am pretty excited. There is a guy named Dirtfishing on youtube that is my hero. He shows it like it is with the E-trac, trash and all. Feels like you are there hunting with him. Which comes in handy when the snow flies in Montana and you can't detect. When I saw his videos I knew that I had to have an E-trac. I am glad the day has finally arrived. I will be letting you know when it gets here, and my first impressions after a couple of hunts at some places that I hit hard with my other detectors.

 

[Ogre1190]

Welcome to the Dark Side. 😈

 

[mikeraydj]

The sounds are more like a strangled duck..

So did my Xterra 705 Gold. Sounds more like a guy playing a flute that doesn't know the song. So I should be right at home.

 

[mikeraydj]

Here are some pics of my machine that will be here Wednesday.

 

[mikeraydj]

Already thinking about a sunray X5 sniper coil.

 

[ShortbusElite]

Already thinking about a sunray X5 sniper coil.

I have the Sunray X8 and love it. I hear good things about the X5 as well. I'd say go for it!

 

[beerguy]

Before I ordered my CTX, I ordered the Sabisch book. Gave me something to do while I awaited my purchase.

That was 6 months ago, so now that I have a few hundred hours under my belt I am re-reading it.

Great way to have a solid understanding of the machine.

 

[Showtime2385]

I also have the Sabisch book, I couldn't get through the whole thing honestly. Too much blah blah blah in there for me. I learn much faster by swinging, playing and digging!

 

[ShortbusElite]

The Sabisch book may not be for everybody, but I found it very helpful. The parts of the book that I found most informative were the parts detailing the different functions of the Etrac for example "Fast Recovery" and "Recovery Deep" and which scenarios those are best deployed and why.

 

[beerguy]

I also have the Sabisch book, I couldn't get through the whole thing honestly. Too much blah blah blah in there for me. I learn much faster by swinging, playing and digging!

I get that, Showtime, but when you do not have the machine yet it was a nice alternative.

I do think that it helped me out, but nothing is a replacement for field time.